In honor of National Poetry Month

[alee_grrl]

April is National Poetry Month. I've been having fun playing with jjhunter and formulating haikai. I've also been working on a longer bit of blank verse. I'm not 100% happy with it, but have decided to post it anyway. I would be curious to hear what people think. So without further ado, I present "Word Ownership."



I.

Words: small units of language.
Tiny tools, multifaceted and complex
Strung together, used to concentrate the abstract.
Concentration allows manipulation.

Words have an accepted general meaning-
Amorphous and fluid, affected by time and culture.

Like all tools words have only
The morality given through use.
Vocal scalpels may heal or hurt
Shaped by speaker’s intent and
Listener’s understanding.

II.

You spit the word fat like it leaves a bad taste.
I free the word of venom and spite and endeavor to
Wear my size with grace. I am who I am;
I reclaim the word rather than spit in your face.

You sneer as you call me a geek or a nerd.
I grin and say it with pride.
This is who I am and I’m proud of that fact.
It is you who I pity inside.

So many words to label me, box me and
Cut me down; I will not be quantified.

I own the words I speak,
I own the words I hear.

Say what you will, I’ll hear it as I choose.

Comments

[lynnoconnacht]

*shivers* Oh, that is powerful. I love this. It's gorgeous. I love the way the parts work together. I love the first half for what it says about words and the way the second part illustrates it. It's raw and fierce-yet-gentle and it fair sings with pride and love.

[alee_grrl]

Thank you! When I wrote it I wasn't terribly sure about the two parts as they were so very different. But I decided that it did precisely what I wanted it to do and left it as it was. :)

[lynnoconnacht]

*nods* They are very different, but that's exactly why I like the way they work together, so I'm glad you decided it did what you wanted it to do! <3